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It's about that time of year! Turtles are starting to head to their location for their brumation period for the winter! What is brumation you ask? Brumation is a state similar to hibernation, but rather then sleeping the entire time, reptiles such as turtles, will wake up to eat and drink. Turtles are ectothermic meaning cold blooded, which means they can match their body temperature to the air temperture. In order to have this abillity, they need to be able to conserve their energy, did you know turtles can slow their heart rate down to 1 beat every 10 minutes!? Turtles are known to brumate in the water, deep enough where the temperature is not too low. When turtles are under water, they have two methods of taking in oxygen, one being through their nostrils and the other being a method called cloacal respiration, which is when oxygen is taken in and carbon dioxide is let out. That being said, the main oxygen for turtles during brumation is through their butts! So yes, turtles can breath through their butts! They will then start to end their brumation state in May when they are ready to mate.
Turtles are on the move so don't forget to look for them on the road!
